Tom Petty 1950-2017

Tom Petty

Tom Petty, leader of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, performs at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on August 14, 2005 in Irvine, California.

The rocker, who also released solo albums and performed as part of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, died on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. He was 66.

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan

Credit: Karl Walter/Getty Images

Tom Petty

Born in Gainesville, Florida, on October 20, 1950, Tom Petty was inspired by Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. As a teenager he also had a talented guitar teacher in Don Felder, future lead guitarist of the Eagles.

Petty played in a succession of bands, leading to Mudcrutch, which also included Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell. When that band broke up, Petty - instead of going solo - formed a new band, with Tench, Campbell, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch

Credit: Backstreet Records

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Between 1976 and 2014 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would release 13 studio albums and nearly a dozen live albums and compilations. Among their biggest hits were "Breakdown," "American Girl," "Don't Do Me Like That," "Refugee," "You Got Lucky," "Mary Jane's Last Dance," and "Listen to Her Heart."

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Musician Tom Petty touches the star he and his band, the Heartbreakers, received on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, April 28, 1999, in Hollywood, Calif. From left: Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, Petty and Benmont Tench.

Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

Tom Petty

Pictured: Tom Petty in 2002.

In 1999 Charlie Rose asked Petty where his lyrics came from: "It's from my life and my friends' lives, and it's all around me," he replied. "Inspiration is really never very far away if you, if you look for it. It's all around you."

Credit: Warner Records/Bob Sebree

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Inductee Tom Petty waves as he and his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, receive their award during the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, March 18, 2002.

Credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Tom Petty

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on October 1, 2003 in Burbank, California.

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Kid Rock, Jackson Browne, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Tom Petty and Keith Richards perform in a jam session at the conclusion of the 19th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, March 15, 2004 in New York City.

Credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

New York City

Stevie Nicks, left, performs with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in front of a packed house at Madison Square Garden Tuesday, June 20, 2006, in New York.

Petty released his third solo album, "Highway Companion," the following month.

Credit: JASON DECROW / AP

Austin City Limits Music Festival

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers perform in the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on September 17, 2006 in Austin, Texas.

Credit: Matt Archer / Getty Images

Vegoose Music Festival

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at the Vegoose music festival at Sam Boyd Stadium's Star Nursery Field on October 28, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Credit: Karl Walter / Getty Images

Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show

Musician Tom Petty performs in the halftime show during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show

Musician Tom Petty performs in the halftime show during Super Bowl XLII, February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show

Tom Petty performs in the halftime show during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show

Tom Petty performs at halftime during Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Inductee Randy Newman and musicians Tom Petty, Jackson Browne and John Fogerty perform onstage at the 28th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles.

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"Hypnotic Eye"

The last studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 2014, was "Hypnotic Eye," which was also their first album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Tracks included "American Dream Plan B," "U Get Me High," "Burnt Out Town," and "Forgotten Men."

Credit: Reprise Records

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Mike Campbell and Tom Petty, of the Heartbreakers, perform at Viejas Arena on August 3, 2014 in San Diego, California.

Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, performs during the band's 40th anniversary Tour, at Bridgestone Arena on April 25, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, performs during the band's 40th anniversary Tour, at Bridgestone Arena on April 25, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

40th Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on their 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

40th Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty is photographed during the Heartbreakers' 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

40th Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on the group's 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

40th Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on the group's 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

40th Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty performs on his group's 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

Hollywood Bowl

Tom Petty is pictured backstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, at the conclusion of the group's 40th anniversary tour.

Credit: Andy Tennile

Hollywood Bowl

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 40th anniversary tour concluded in September 2017 with three shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Credit: Andy Tennile

Hollywood Bowl

Tom Petty, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is pictured onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Credit: Andy Tennile

Hollywood Bowl

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Credit: Andy Tennile

Hollywood Walk of Fame

People gather around the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star of the late Tom Petty in Hollywood, Calif., October 2, 2017. Fans left candles and flowers at his star, after Petty was found unconscious and non-responsive in his Malibu home late Sunday, suffering a full cardiac arrest. Petty died peacefully Monday at 8:40 p.m. surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.

Credit: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

In Memoriam

A tribute to musician Tom Petty is shown at the entrance of Warner Bros. Records on October 3, 2017 in Burbank, California.

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Tom Petty

Petty died on October 2, 2017 at the age of 66, a week after concluding the 40th anniversary tour of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.